Flamengo to challenge Messi's record—Zico scored more

Following the revelation that the Zambian FA will go to FIFA to get Godfrey Chitalu's record of 107 goals in a calendar year recognised, Flamengo have also hinted that they will seek to get Zico's record of 89 goals in 1979 acknowledged by FIFA.

It has been reported that Mess recently broke the world record for most goals in a calendar year by surpassing Gerd Muller's total of 85 goals, but the record appears to have opened up FIFA's statistics for debate worldwide.

Over the course of the 1979 season, Flamengo insist that Zico scored 81 times in their colours, as well as on seven occasions for the the Brazil national team and once for a Rest of the World XI against Argentina.

The goals, which Zico mentioned last month in relation to Messi's record, are all recorded in Flamengo's archives and will be presented to FIFA. The playmaker's tally, from 81 games played, is made all the more remarkable by the fact that he missed two months of the season through injury.

"We are upset. Messi has not passed his record." Bruno Lucena, coordinator of research and statistics told Lancenet. "If he had players the whole year, it is a certainty that he would have more than 100 goals."